Funeral reading
Matthew 5:1–12 — the Beatitudes
King James Bible
“Matthew 5:1–12 — the Beatitudes” (King James Bible) is a scripture reading read at a funeral or memorial service. It takes about a minute and a half read aloud, usually by a guest reader. It is in the public domain, so the full text is printed on this page and goes straight into a ceremony script.
The full text
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Public domain, so these words can be printed in a ceremony script or an order of service.
Where it comes from
Matthew 5 sets the Beatitudes at the start of the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus sees the crowds, goes up a mountain and sits down to teach.
What it says
Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted. Each blessing comes with a promise: comfort, inheritance, being filled, mercy, seeing God. The second one speaks straight to a funeral: blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Together they describe a kind of person the world tends to overlook.
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." Read at a funeral or memorial service. Themes: blessed are they that mourn · mercy · peacemakers · the meek · gospel reading.
Who it suits
Funerals for gentle, unassuming people, peacemakers, carers and people who were good to others without fuss. It suits Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox services equally. It can also describe the mourners themselves, which makes it a comfort to the room.
Where it goes in the ceremony
In a church service, often the Gospel reading, read by the priest or minister. In a less formal service, a family member can read it before the eulogy.
Reading it aloud
The text on this page is 172 words. At a ceremony pace of about 130 words a minute, which is slower than conversation, that comes to about a minute and a half of reading.
- The blessings follow one pattern. Keep a gentle, even rhythm and pause after each one.
- “Blessed are they that mourn” is the one the room needs. Slow a little for it.
- The last verses about rejoicing and great reward lift the ending. Let your voice brighten.
Questions about reading it aloud
How long does “Matthew 5:1–12 — the Beatitudes” take to read aloud?
“Matthew 5:1–12 — the Beatitudes” takes about a minute and a half read aloud at a ceremony pace, which is slower than conversation — roughly 130 words a minute. That is the figure the run-sheet uses when it works out the timing for the whole service.
Who usually reads “Matthew 5:1–12 — the Beatitudes”?
Usually a guest reader rather than the officiant. “Matthew 5:1–12 — the Beatitudes” runs about a minute and a half, which is a manageable amount to hand to a friend or family member. Give them a printed copy of their own, in a size they can read without their glasses, and tell them where to stand and how you will introduce them.
Can “Matthew 5:1–12 — the Beatitudes” be printed in a ceremony script?
Yes. It is in the public domain, so the full text is on this page and can be printed in a script or an order of service.
Where this text was checked
Checked word for word against a full-text edition that is itself the authority — a Project Gutenberg or Wikisource transcription, a publisher’s own edition, or the issuing body’s page.
Checked
A reading is two minutes of the hour.
The rest is the welcome, the life, the remembrances, the committal — and knowing what comes next. Answer some questions about them and get the whole service, written out, with this reading in its place.
Other readings that suit the same service
- Matthew 11:28–3025 secondsCome unto me, all ye that labour
- Micah 6:6–845 secondsDo justly, love mercy, walk humbly
- Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace50 secondsA prayer in the same spirit
- Psalm 103:8–17a minute and a halfKing James Bible
- Lamentations 3:22–2635 secondsKing James Bible
- John 11:21–2755 secondsKing James Bible